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The Houston Astros advanced to the World Series for the first time in team history in 2005, and two former San Jacinto College North pitchers played prominent roles. Andy Pettitte, who pitched for the Gators in 1991 after graduating from Deer Park High School, had a terrific bounce back year after battling injuries in 2004. Pettitte’s 17-9 mark with a 2.39 earned run average placed him second behind Roy Oswalt (20) in team wins. The former Gator also won a postseason game for the Astros, going 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in the playoffs. The left-hander will enter the 2006 season in the final year of a three-year $31.5 million contract he signed with the team prior to the 2004 season. He went 149-78 in nine seasons with the New York Yankees while winning four World Series rings. Pettitte’s 14 career playoff victories are the best in Major League Baseball history. |
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In 1990, Pettitte pitched Deer Park to the state title game. In the 1991 campaign he was 8-2 for the Gators before donning the pinstripes in New York. Seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens was also huge in the Astros’ success in 2005. Although the brilliant right-hander suffered from a lack of run support throughout the season, he posted a 13-8 mark to go with a 1.87 ERA. Clemens’ road ERA for much of the season was under 1.00. Clemens, who pitched for the Gators in 1981, went 18-4 in his first season with the Astros in 2004, winning his seventh Cy Young Award. He has won 341 games over a 22-year career with Boston, Montreal, the New York Yankees and Houston. At press time he was contemplating retirement after the Astros declined him salary arbitration in January. Clemens made $18 million for the 2005 season with the Astros, and his son, Colby, was a 2005 draft choice of the Astros out of Houston Memorial High School. The “Rocket” was 9-2 in his season with the Gators before leading the Texas Longhorns to the College World Series title. |
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